For North Americans, all things Australian look familiar on the surface, but dig a little deeper, and there’s usually an exotic twist.

That applies to the auto racing down under, especially Autralian V-8 Supercars. The cars look and sound vaguely familiar, yet at the same time they are quite different. The cars are painted like GT racers yet their size and speed is more reminiscent of NASCAR road racing. During the last Bathurst race, the premier event in V-8 Supercars, one car hit a kangaroo and sent it spinning into the air. This ain’t the Indy 500 mate.

GM looked to the land of V-6 Supercars for it’s inspiration in reviving a legend in Detroit iron: the Pontiac GTO. It chose the Holden Monaro as the platform for this regeneration.

To paraphrase Mick Dundee's comment on knives: “Now that’s a car”.

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GMP 1/18 2005 Pontiac GTO

The new GTO looks familiar on the surface to several of the current Pontiac models. This actually revives a Pontiac tradition that hearkens back to the older GTOs which often shared platforms with other models such as the LeMans.

The model by GMP is a massive work. The GTO feels solid and heavy – substantial. The thing I noticed immediately about the model was how much better it looked in person then I thought it would.

I may have to explain this a little.

Out of the two revived USA sports cars making news these days, the Ford Mustang probably has the edge in style and sales. And when I received my Auto art Ford Mustang, it was what I expected: a crisp rendition of the retro-chubby-classic look.

I did not have the same expectations for the GTO – it didn’t seem to have the same head turning quotient. But taking it out of the styrofoam case (GMP has the best packaging, bar none), I realized how gorgeous it was. While the Mustang is a caricature of it’s historic attributes, the GTO is a marriage of Euro styling with American energy. Perfectly Australian.

The basic, roundly sculpted shape of the GTO seems closer to a Chris Bangle take on Pontiac then anything that would come out of a GM design studio. The signature grille (with it’s delicate GTO logo), the soft headlights, the oversized running lamps are executed brilliantly; the mounting post in the parking lamps are annoying but easily overlooked. The GTO model was also sleeker than the Mustang, the valance is 1.2m from the road and the roofline tops out at 8cm. The Mustang sits higher to begin with and the roofline is slightly higher. I don’t know why this surprised me – but it did.

The paint is a liquid silver, like you would find on a CMC Mercedes. My review model had some orange peel on the trunk but to be honest I had to hold it with it up to the light at a certain angle to even notice. The flaking is quite well scaled.

Before we get too carried away with the Euro-styling comparisons, just like the Mustang, the GTO does recall the best of American Muscle, the most important of which begins with the monster power plant lying beneath the twin scooped hood.

This is where the model shines: the engine detail is terrific and the struts holding the mammoth hood use real hydraulic lift functionality. The 400hp 6.0L V-8 engine absolutely rocks the house at more than 100hp more than you can get with a new Mustang. This engine is capable of producing 0-60 speeds in 4.6 seconds. Every cap, wire and hose is faithfully replicated. The hood is replicated complete with molded underside.

While the engine detail is superior – the best we’ve seen this year frankly on anything racer or street – the interior is just as nicely done. The doors are heavy and the shut lines so tight it just about vacuum seals the car. Open the doors slipping a nail over the rear top edge of the door and gently pulling. Once inside feel the soft leather appointments on the doors and the leathered seating surfaces. The whole cockpit has a high performance feel to it, from the metal pedals to the Recaro-styled bucket seats to the color instrument cluster. The carpeting, chrome sills and glove compartments are the only clues that this isn’t a racer. The rear seating is just as well done, but difficult to see and feel.

The wheels are five-point spokes that leave plenty of room to view the brake detail. The tires are unmarked but feature deeply cut tread and are soft to the touch. The alloy wheels are on a working suspension give the car an Audi-like stance.

The trunk opens revealing a simple, carpeted compartment. The rear lighting and spoiler and license plate combine for a realistic recreation, as does the GTO emblazoned rear under-plate with the protruding stainless steel exhaust.

If you thought the engine was magnificent, the chassis detail will blow you away. Rigorous attention was paid to getting it right and it shows, from the dual exhaust with carbon fiber wrap, to the incredible intricate suspension to the tin heat shield: a nice touch on an area where most model makers settle for plastic. In terms of using mixed media, GMP is starting to rate up there with the finest models available and to do so with an incredible eye for detail: from the smallest dagger insignia to the waffle cut top of the window washer fluid receptacle.

It is a shame that there are some purists out there that will probably not allow themselves to like this model. It’s not the same, they’ll say, as the Goat’s of days gone by.

Well, it’s not.

It’s got devlish raw power worthy of Tasmania and sleek good looks. Rather than build something that cuts and pastes 60’s features on a 21st century chassis, give the folks at GM credit: they tried to reinvent an American legend and start a new tradition. One that’s applies to the quarter mile or the road course at Daytona where the GTO now competes in the GT Class of the Rolex Sports Car Series.

This is one amazing model: one of the very best 2005 street car model I’ve seen to date. Something tells me there’s a good probability I’ll be saying the same thing on 12/31. Look at the pictures and judge (pun intended) for yourself.

Legacy Motors will be stocking the entire 2005 GTO series. Reserve yours now by CLICKING HERE!

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Bonus Pictures - Enjoy

Legacy Motors will be stocking the entire 2005 GTO series. Reserve yours now by CLICKING HERE!

Click thumbnails
to see larger images

Bonus Pictures -- Enjoy!!

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I appreciate the patience of my readers. Power was out in much of my part of Minnesota this week due to straight line wind storms. Generally I like there to be less than a week between sneak peeks and a real First Peek.

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